I found the article by Adam McFarland, interesting and helpful. Using your Blog to promote your site is definitely a great way to get your site noticed, as well as, to help in the traffic department.
But he goes beyond just stating that using your blog to get traffic -- he shows you some methods to get the job done. And he also emphasizes the importance of Bloggers -- and the weight their opinion carries on the Internet. If you have a new Blog, and you don't think you are being heard -- think again.
Using Blog PR To Promote Your Site
by Adam McFarland
The recent trend of using the press release to promote an online business has emerged with good reason – good press costs very little and can do more for a business than thousands of dollars of marketing. Most businesses use press distribution services like PR Web or PRFree to get the word out about their news. While distribution services certainly can be effective, they tend to miss out on arguably the most influential group of the press – bloggers.
Bloggers mold and shape the opinions of their readers, who are normally the most important in their particular industry, many of whom are also bloggers. Not long after a post from an influential blogger, your news has been picked up by several other bloggers and within days you are all over the blogsphere. Before you know it your site is getting more attention than it would if a story ran in the local newspaper! So how do you get the influential bloggers in your industry to run a story about your business?
Why Would Anyone Do a Story About Your Business?
Are you a new company? Did you just launch a new product that they could review? Did your business win an award? Are you a group of college kids who started a company on savings from your summer jobs? You get the idea. There needs to be a reason that someone would want to read about you. Bloggers take pride in the content they feed their readers. You don't stand a chance of getting a blogger to write about you if you don't have a story that their readers will be interested in.
Research Bloggers in Your Industry
More is less when it comes to contacting bloggers. Buy a list of 1,000 bloggers and send out a generic email to all of them and you'll likely get no response. But send a small amount of personalized emails to the appropriate bloggers and you'll be shocked at how many positive responses you get.
The first step is to make a list of the bloggers that would be interested in your story. You can generally get a feel for whether or not a blogger would be interested in your story by reading a couple of posts and checking out their bio. If they've done a few similar stories in the past or they are heavily involved in your industry, there is a good chance they'll want to hear your story. If not, leave them off your list and move on.
The single best method that I have found to research blogs is the Technorati Blog Directory http://www.technorati.com/blogs/. You can peruse blogs in your industry in order of “authority” - how important Technorati thinks a blog is. This is extremely useful. For example, if you are in the travel industry, you can view a list of the most influential blogs in the world of travel.
Another great way to find the right bloggers is to search through your competitors press sections on their websites to see what blogs have mentioned them. You can also find out who has mentioned your competitors by looking at the sites that have linked to them (type in “links:www.theirsite.com” on Yahoo!). There's a good chance that if they found your competitors story interesting, they'll find your story interesting as well.
Compose Your Email
The best way to contact bloggers is by email. The good news is that most bloggers make themselves easy to access and provide their email addresses on their blogs. The bad news is that most people don't know what to do with said email address once they get it. Use the following outline for your email and you'll see amazing results:
Have a simple subject. You probably won't get many responses by treating your email like a press release and writing RELEASE in the subject line. Try something simple like “fan of your blog” or “comment about your blog.” You want to make sure they actually read your email and don't mentally mark it as SPAM when they see the subject.
Start by complementing them. Since you've read their blog and learned about them from their bio, you know quite a bit about them. Use it to your advantage. Complement them on your favorite post, or how cool it is that they worked for XYZ company.
Request them to post about you (be direct). In three sentences or less, tell them your story, why you think it would be of interest to them and their readers, and respectfully ask that they write a post about it. Be direct and to the point. They will respect that. Offer something in return. You have something that could help them. Maybe it's a link back to their blog from your personal blog, or maybe you could provide them with a free product or service that could help them or their business. One way or another, there's something you have to offer them in return for the time spent on a post about you.
Close with something nice. Thank them for their time and wish them luck with their blog and/or business ventures.
Notice that of the five components of the email, only one is about your story. The rest of the email is spent complimenting them and offering them something. Your chances of getting a positive response have just gone through the roof. Every blogger, no matter how large, likes to hear that people are enjoying their posts.
Respond Promptly and Respectfully
Not everyone is going to agree to run your story. Some will say that they don't do that type of thing or that they don't have time. Since you have been so nice as to compliment them, they will still usually reply either way. Regardless of the response, be sure to thank them for their time and wish them luck with their ventures. You never know when they will encounter someone who needs your product or service in the future (remember, they are in your industry) and if they have a positive image of you and your company they will undoubtedly give you a good recommendation.
Sit Back and Watch the Traffic Roll In
Over the course of the next few weeks you will see post after post appear about your business. Be sure to send another thank you email to the blogger after the post and also be sure to promptly provide whatever you offered them in return. At this point you have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with someone important in your industry that can become invaluable over time.
That wasn't that hard was it? With a little research and a carefully crafted email, any business can effectively use blog PR to drive traffic to their site.
Adam McFarland owns iPrioritize - simple to-do lists that can be edited at any time from any place in the world. Email, print, check from your mobile phone, subscribe via RSS, and share with others.
Read more...
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Looking For Some Software?
Looking for some software? If we are in business and working online-- software is a necessity. And yes, some of the software is expensive. Many people are tempted by OEM software. Well, the other day, I received some spam that was advertising OEM software. I looked at some of the products -- found it rather, well, interesting. And let's face it, who wouldn't want to save a buck. However, from my experience on the Internet, my radar went up, and the next thought that came to mind was: "Is this stuff legal?" Yes and No.
Here is an article that will explain what OEM is and what problems you can get yourself into if you buy it.
Software Scams --To Cheap To Be True?
By Vickie J Scanlon
I'm sure that you have received an email stating that you can purchase name brand software cheap. As a matter of fact, I received such an email the other day. They call this type of software OEM software. But is it legal? And most important, how can you spot a software scam?
Software Scams
These are some of the "sounds too good to be true" warning signs:
1. Prices are below most reputable online sellers -- such as Amazon.com.
2. If the webmaster is telling you the reasons why they are legal -- may not be.
3. If there is a statement that says "you give up the right for a chargeback" (chargeback -- a return of the product, and thus, the return of your money to your pocket). Or, here is a really scary statement that they may have in small print -- that they can counter-sue you for any chargebacks you may put into action against them.
4. If you have to use a special number -- no not the registration number -- more than likely it is an illegal version.
5. Registration -- sellers says the software cannot be registered.
6. No warranty offered.
These are the obvious signs that this software could be illegal. Always take the time to look at "Whois" to see how long a retailer has been online:
1) less than a year -- first warning sign
2) only has an IP address with no name, address, etc. -- second warning sign.
What If I Get It Anyway?
Maybe you're saying to yourself, "Surely it can't hurt. And it's so cheap!" That's the draw. But it can open you to some of the following problems:
1) Credit Card scam
2) No technical support
3) No manuals
4) Software is basically a "what you see is what you get". You got it, no upgrades.
5) The software could have a virus installed with the software. As a matter of fact, illegal software has been one major source for causing damage to computer systems and data.
Example of possible virus download: An individual worker found a Pacman game (though not illegal to obtain) on the Internet while surfing the net at home and decided to download the game onto a floppy to play it at work during the slow times. Just as an added bonus to his benign neglect, he didn't do a virus check on the floppy to make sure the game was clean. He took it to work, popped the floppy into his hard-drive and blindly downloaded the game to play it at his leisure. Low and behold -- Pacman game came with Pacman virus. That happy little critter slowly began to eat away at the hard-drive. Results of his actions, downtime and lost productivity for the company. Worker -- a week of lost wages for the indiscretion.
6) You could face penalties for using illegal software -- which can be significant.
When is it not illegal?
Oem software is illegal when it is not used according to the software license agreement. In most cases, OEM software is legal when it is distributed with specified accompanying hardware. If the OEM software is legitimate, don't expect user manuals, original retail packaging of the software, or the technical support that is usually provided by the hardware provider.
Where to Report Software Piracy
You can report any software piracy issues to the BSA -- Business Software Alliance.
On the Internet, temptations are everywhere, so it's important to learn what is legal and what is not, so you can protect yourself, your data, or your business.
Vickie J Scanlon -- Visit her site My Affiliate Place at: My Affiliate Place for a repository of tools, articles, ebooks, affiliate information, software, computers, web hosting, where to report scams and more for the Affiliate/Internet Marketing person or individual.
Read more...
Here is an article that will explain what OEM is and what problems you can get yourself into if you buy it.
Software Scams --To Cheap To Be True?
By Vickie J Scanlon
I'm sure that you have received an email stating that you can purchase name brand software cheap. As a matter of fact, I received such an email the other day. They call this type of software OEM software. But is it legal? And most important, how can you spot a software scam?
Software Scams
These are some of the "sounds too good to be true" warning signs:
1. Prices are below most reputable online sellers -- such as Amazon.com.
2. If the webmaster is telling you the reasons why they are legal -- may not be.
3. If there is a statement that says "you give up the right for a chargeback" (chargeback -- a return of the product, and thus, the return of your money to your pocket). Or, here is a really scary statement that they may have in small print -- that they can counter-sue you for any chargebacks you may put into action against them.
4. If you have to use a special number -- no not the registration number -- more than likely it is an illegal version.
5. Registration -- sellers says the software cannot be registered.
6. No warranty offered.
These are the obvious signs that this software could be illegal. Always take the time to look at "Whois" to see how long a retailer has been online:
1) less than a year -- first warning sign
2) only has an IP address with no name, address, etc. -- second warning sign.
What If I Get It Anyway?
Maybe you're saying to yourself, "Surely it can't hurt. And it's so cheap!" That's the draw. But it can open you to some of the following problems:
1) Credit Card scam
2) No technical support
3) No manuals
4) Software is basically a "what you see is what you get". You got it, no upgrades.
5) The software could have a virus installed with the software. As a matter of fact, illegal software has been one major source for causing damage to computer systems and data.
Example of possible virus download: An individual worker found a Pacman game (though not illegal to obtain) on the Internet while surfing the net at home and decided to download the game onto a floppy to play it at work during the slow times. Just as an added bonus to his benign neglect, he didn't do a virus check on the floppy to make sure the game was clean. He took it to work, popped the floppy into his hard-drive and blindly downloaded the game to play it at his leisure. Low and behold -- Pacman game came with Pacman virus. That happy little critter slowly began to eat away at the hard-drive. Results of his actions, downtime and lost productivity for the company. Worker -- a week of lost wages for the indiscretion.
6) You could face penalties for using illegal software -- which can be significant.
When is it not illegal?
Oem software is illegal when it is not used according to the software license agreement. In most cases, OEM software is legal when it is distributed with specified accompanying hardware. If the OEM software is legitimate, don't expect user manuals, original retail packaging of the software, or the technical support that is usually provided by the hardware provider.
Where to Report Software Piracy
You can report any software piracy issues to the BSA -- Business Software Alliance.
On the Internet, temptations are everywhere, so it's important to learn what is legal and what is not, so you can protect yourself, your data, or your business.
Vickie J Scanlon -- Visit her site My Affiliate Place at: My Affiliate Place for a repository of tools, articles, ebooks, affiliate information, software, computers, web hosting, where to report scams and more for the Affiliate/Internet Marketing person or individual.
Read more...
Monday, August 14, 2006
Blogging and Your Niche
The Article below "Successful Blogging" gives you seven different strategies to successful blogging -- with of course, an emphasis toward your niche. Make sure the niche you choose is something that you have strong interest in -- you can't keep your readers interested, if you are not interested in your niche as well. It will show.
Successful Blogging
by Sharon Hurley Hall
What makes some blogs more successful than others? Here are seven strategies that will contribute to every blog's success.
What's Your Niche?
When people start to blog, they often have little idea what they're going to say today and less idea what they'll be talking about in five years' time. That doesn't matter much at the beginning, but if you're going to stick to blogging, you need to find something you enjoy writing about and can stay current on. Something that's a big part of your life will make a good blogging niche. For me, that's writing; for you, it could be something else.
Keep Your Focus
Once you've found your niche, stick to it, most of the time at least. When your readers get used to the content you provide, your readership will dip if you go off-topic for too long. You need to find a way to make your content relevant to your readers. Sometimes all you need to do that is a good title. Choosing a title that relates to the theme of your blog or post will help readers realize what your topic is and how this post relates to it.
Read Or Dead?
If you want people to read your blog, you've got to give them something to read - and you've got to make it regular. For some people, this means posting at least once or several times a day. For others, it means posting a couple of times a week. If you're a WAHM or part-time blogger, you may not have a lot of time to sit down and think of posts, let alone write them. But as long as there's activity on the blog, there'll be people reading it. Stay away too long and people are likely to abandon your blog for one that's got fresh content. Since people have lives that are offline (as well as online) getting a guest blogger is a good way to make sure your blog is updated if you have to be away. And with some blogging platforms like Wordpress, you can submit blog posts by email.
Tell The World
Sitting around waiting for people to find your content can take a long time. Instead, take the content to them with headline animators from Feedburner, email alerts from Feedblitz, RSS feeds from whoever you choose. Submit your blog to directories and try to think of a description that will make people want to visit. This is especially important if your blog is just one of many in a crowded field. What is the unique selling point of your blog? What makes it stand out from the rest? That's what you need to put in the description. Use pinging services like Pingoat to let people know you've updated your content. Also use the social bookmarking services to take your blog posts to a wider audience.
Read All About It
Read other people's blogs, not just on your own blogging plarform, but everywhere. This will let you know what people are thinking and talking about and may give you inspiration for blog posts of your own. This article was inspired by a post on Problogger, for example.
Talk To Others
When you read other blogs, be sure to comment if you've found the post interesting or useful. If you have something to add to the discussion, that's even more useful. The best blogging has a community feel and you have to keep talking to maintain that community. That also means that you should respond to all comments on your blog. If you get a lot of visitors, you don't have to respond individually, but it's nice for people to know their voices have been heard.
Work Those Links
Use blogrolls and bookmarks to keep track of the bloggers you read. You can also link to interesting posts in your own posts and use the trackbacks feature to let those people know about the link. If you're lucky, those people will also link back to you and you'll get new readers for your blog. But that's only one part of the story. The best way to keep getting readers for your posts is to link to them in other posts. After all, you're the person who's most likely to know if one of your blog posts is related to another.
These strategies are a good way of building a blog readership and a sense of community with your readers. Once you've done that, your readers will come to you with questions and comments that will lead to other blog posts - and you'll be sure that someone wants to read them.
About This Author:
Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor. Sharon worked in publishing for 19 years, writing articles and editing and designing books and magazines. Sharon writes on freelance writing for InspiredAuthor.com. For more information or to contact Sharon, visit doublehdesign.com.
Read more...
Successful Blogging
by Sharon Hurley Hall
What makes some blogs more successful than others? Here are seven strategies that will contribute to every blog's success.
What's Your Niche?
When people start to blog, they often have little idea what they're going to say today and less idea what they'll be talking about in five years' time. That doesn't matter much at the beginning, but if you're going to stick to blogging, you need to find something you enjoy writing about and can stay current on. Something that's a big part of your life will make a good blogging niche. For me, that's writing; for you, it could be something else.
Keep Your Focus
Once you've found your niche, stick to it, most of the time at least. When your readers get used to the content you provide, your readership will dip if you go off-topic for too long. You need to find a way to make your content relevant to your readers. Sometimes all you need to do that is a good title. Choosing a title that relates to the theme of your blog or post will help readers realize what your topic is and how this post relates to it.
Read Or Dead?
If you want people to read your blog, you've got to give them something to read - and you've got to make it regular. For some people, this means posting at least once or several times a day. For others, it means posting a couple of times a week. If you're a WAHM or part-time blogger, you may not have a lot of time to sit down and think of posts, let alone write them. But as long as there's activity on the blog, there'll be people reading it. Stay away too long and people are likely to abandon your blog for one that's got fresh content. Since people have lives that are offline (as well as online) getting a guest blogger is a good way to make sure your blog is updated if you have to be away. And with some blogging platforms like Wordpress, you can submit blog posts by email.
Tell The World
Sitting around waiting for people to find your content can take a long time. Instead, take the content to them with headline animators from Feedburner, email alerts from Feedblitz, RSS feeds from whoever you choose. Submit your blog to directories and try to think of a description that will make people want to visit. This is especially important if your blog is just one of many in a crowded field. What is the unique selling point of your blog? What makes it stand out from the rest? That's what you need to put in the description. Use pinging services like Pingoat to let people know you've updated your content. Also use the social bookmarking services to take your blog posts to a wider audience.
Read All About It
Read other people's blogs, not just on your own blogging plarform, but everywhere. This will let you know what people are thinking and talking about and may give you inspiration for blog posts of your own. This article was inspired by a post on Problogger, for example.
Talk To Others
When you read other blogs, be sure to comment if you've found the post interesting or useful. If you have something to add to the discussion, that's even more useful. The best blogging has a community feel and you have to keep talking to maintain that community. That also means that you should respond to all comments on your blog. If you get a lot of visitors, you don't have to respond individually, but it's nice for people to know their voices have been heard.
Work Those Links
Use blogrolls and bookmarks to keep track of the bloggers you read. You can also link to interesting posts in your own posts and use the trackbacks feature to let those people know about the link. If you're lucky, those people will also link back to you and you'll get new readers for your blog. But that's only one part of the story. The best way to keep getting readers for your posts is to link to them in other posts. After all, you're the person who's most likely to know if one of your blog posts is related to another.
These strategies are a good way of building a blog readership and a sense of community with your readers. Once you've done that, your readers will come to you with questions and comments that will lead to other blog posts - and you'll be sure that someone wants to read them.
About This Author:
Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor. Sharon worked in publishing for 19 years, writing articles and editing and designing books and magazines. Sharon writes on freelance writing for InspiredAuthor.com. For more information or to contact Sharon, visit doublehdesign.com.
Read more...
Friday, August 11, 2006
New Landing Page Algorithm Changes for Google Adwords
Google has made changes to their their landing page algorithm for Google Adwords. Needless to say the changes were unsettling and in some cases have harmed some online businesses.
The scenerio of changes
Before the changes took affect, many advertisers were promoting their keywords for 5 to 10 cents a click, but after the change the keywords jumped to between 50 cents to a $1; Other advertisers were able to keep their bid prices on their keywords, but the page positioning of their ads shifted from their original page 1 standing to page 3 or 4, etc.; Other advertisers were unable to continue with their PPC campaigns; and last but not least, others saw no change at all.
The following type landing pages for Google Adwords were hit the hardest:
Read more...
The scenerio of changes
Before the changes took affect, many advertisers were promoting their keywords for 5 to 10 cents a click, but after the change the keywords jumped to between 50 cents to a $1; Other advertisers were able to keep their bid prices on their keywords, but the page positioning of their ads shifted from their original page 1 standing to page 3 or 4, etc.; Other advertisers were unable to continue with their PPC campaigns; and last but not least, others saw no change at all.
The following type landing pages for Google Adwords were hit the hardest:
- Squeeze pages
- affiliate sites
- one page sales letter sites
- adsense sites (those involved in Adsense arbitrage). Adsense arbitrage is where people make money by bidding on less expensive terms to drive people to a page with only AdSense or Network ads.
- affiliate sites
It seems that Google has assigned scores to the landing page, and thus, determined the positioning, pricing, etc. What to do? Through all my readings on the issue the following seemed to be consistent:
- provide relevant content
- Link to the page that provides the most relevant information.
- Remove Adsense Ads from your landing pages
- Add more content to your site
- Your landing page should have at least 500 words -- and relevant to your product/ad.
In my readings, some applauded the change, some wanted more changes, others were angry and yet others devastated by the changes. Whatever the case, there is only one thing that I am sure of, the Internet is an ever changing environment -- whether you like it or not, you have to roll with the punches -- or make individual choices to stay or leave the online arena.
Read more...
Monday, August 7, 2006
Adsense And Your Income
I thought that this article would be helpful -- as you know a lot of adsense sites are going up, but you should also know that there is a right way and a wrong way. I guess it all is determined at what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it.
AdSense and Your Income
By Vickie J. Scanlon
Google Adsense, as you all know, can make a great secondary income to your main website, or if you decide on an info site, a fairly decent income thru Google Adsense alone, if you know how to do it. But what is the right way and what is the wrong way of utilizing Adsense?
The basic generic elements to utilizing Adsense are content, display ads and traffic. That’s not so hard. Right? Well, what seems so simple can be very deceptively difficult. However, through experimentation and testing on your websites you can begin to make some income from Google Adsense. Content alone will not give you the income from Adsense-it's quality content.
Let me emphasize quality content. Why? Many people are overwhelmed by what people call, “junk” websites, which are websites that offer less then quality content with the sole purpose of only getting clicks.
In fact, in my forum travels, I read a post where a webmaster was giving up his/her website, even though it had made around $10,000 because of all the hoopla about Adsense sites. What was my first initial question? Does or did this person have a junk site and was dropped by Google, or did this person’s income flat-line?
Avoid using “article crawling machines” or other automated article systems, these systems may get you up and running in the short run, but running a business in that matter, can definitely put your sense of accomplishment in the toilet and give your website and business a short run.. And yes, then you would probably need hundreds of websites with thousands of pages.
Can you create a website with quality content and make good money with Adsense – certainly. Google gives numerous examples of quality content with the use of Adsense. For example, look at AskTheBuilder.com – a quality website that pulls in $1400 a day in Adsense income.
Thus, if you are looking for longevity on the web, go with a theme that interests you with quality content. Then you won’t need hundreds of websites or thousands of pages and you can build your traffic and a viable income, while keeping both your credibility and integrity intake.
About The Author:
Vickie J. Scanlon My Affiliate Place it is an Affiliate Site and Learning Site for Affiliate Marketing/Internet Marketing offering Tools, Computers, Software Utilities, Web Hosting/Domain Info, How To Information on Adsense and more.
Check my website for information on Adsense-Adsense Basics this will help you to get started on the right foot.
Read more...
AdSense and Your Income
By Vickie J. Scanlon
Google Adsense, as you all know, can make a great secondary income to your main website, or if you decide on an info site, a fairly decent income thru Google Adsense alone, if you know how to do it. But what is the right way and what is the wrong way of utilizing Adsense?
The basic generic elements to utilizing Adsense are content, display ads and traffic. That’s not so hard. Right? Well, what seems so simple can be very deceptively difficult. However, through experimentation and testing on your websites you can begin to make some income from Google Adsense. Content alone will not give you the income from Adsense-it's quality content.
Let me emphasize quality content. Why? Many people are overwhelmed by what people call, “junk” websites, which are websites that offer less then quality content with the sole purpose of only getting clicks.
In fact, in my forum travels, I read a post where a webmaster was giving up his/her website, even though it had made around $10,000 because of all the hoopla about Adsense sites. What was my first initial question? Does or did this person have a junk site and was dropped by Google, or did this person’s income flat-line?
Avoid using “article crawling machines” or other automated article systems, these systems may get you up and running in the short run, but running a business in that matter, can definitely put your sense of accomplishment in the toilet and give your website and business a short run.. And yes, then you would probably need hundreds of websites with thousands of pages.
Can you create a website with quality content and make good money with Adsense – certainly. Google gives numerous examples of quality content with the use of Adsense. For example, look at AskTheBuilder.com – a quality website that pulls in $1400 a day in Adsense income.
Thus, if you are looking for longevity on the web, go with a theme that interests you with quality content. Then you won’t need hundreds of websites or thousands of pages and you can build your traffic and a viable income, while keeping both your credibility and integrity intake.
About The Author:
Vickie J. Scanlon My Affiliate Place it is an Affiliate Site and Learning Site for Affiliate Marketing/Internet Marketing offering Tools, Computers, Software Utilities, Web Hosting/Domain Info, How To Information on Adsense and more.
Check my website for information on Adsense-Adsense Basics this will help you to get started on the right foot.
Read more...
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